Nonremovable closure cap



p 5, 1939- M. P. DOUGHERTY NONREMOVABLE CLOSURE CAP Filed Nov. 14, 1938 jar ZZZ/6 07 Patented Sept. 5, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Martincllo Patrick Dougherty, Marysvllle, Kans.

Application November 14, 1938, Serial No. 240,225

13 Claims.

This invention has to do with a closure device for the end of a conduit or the like and relates particularly to a cap that is provided with means preventing its disassociation from the conduit 5 when in non-closing relation therewith. That is, the embodiment of the invention herein referred to is non-removable in the sense that it is operable to expose the end of a stem,. tube or other conduit with which it is associated without complete'detachment of the parts.

v An object of the present invention is the pro: vision of a non-removable cap of unitary structure which completely clears the open end of a stem or spout when manipulated for permitting ingress or egress of material into or from the open end thereof.

'Another object of the present invention is the provision ofa non-removable cap as the above which is readily assembled with the part that it is to close.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of a: non-removable cap of the above character that is .easily and economically manufactured.

vision of an expediently manipulatable non-removable cap composed of neatly arranged elements giving a decided sales dress to articles of merchandise to which it is attached.

Other desirable objects of my invention will become apparent while reading the following description with reference to the single sheet of drawing constituting a part of this application, and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view'of a collapsible tube having upon the discharge stem thereof a closure device embodying the preferred form of the invention;

- Fig. 2 is a view partly in cross section taken on the line' 22 of 1;-

Fig. 3 is a view illustrating the device in the open position for permitting discharge of tube contents through the stem; and

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the interior A further object of the invention is the pro-- of the device illustrated in the preceding figuresbodiment is illustrative only. Other embodiments are adaptable for different uses. For example, non-removable caps made in accordance with the teaching of the present disclosure may be used for closing the ends of gas or water pipes, valve stems for inflated vehicle tires or conduits of any nature whatsoever.

Referring now to the drawing, and particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, there will be seen one end of a collapsible tube l similar to those commonly -used for packaging toilet pastes and creams. Said tube [0 has .a discharge stem H provided with a threaded section l2 and a shank 13 of reduced diameter.

The closure device I l disposed upon the stem H comprises a cap I5 having an end wall l6 and a skirt I'I. Said skirt has a comparatively large opening l8 in one side and a notch-like opening IS in the substantially diametrically opposite side thereof. The cap I5 is internally threaded as indicated at and the lower side of the skirt is internally threaded as indicated at 2|.

In Figs.1 and 2 it can be seen thatthe threaded section [2 is-tapered, the diameter at the tip of the stem being less than at that portion adjacent to the shank IS. The threaded section 21 in the skirt I1 is of such diameter and pitch as to fit that part of the threaded section l2 near shank l3. Such threaded section 2| extends in excess of 180 degrees about the interior of the skirt H to enable it to vembracingly grip the threaded section l2. Threaded section 20 in the cap i5 is of the proper diameter and pitch for cooperating with the threaded section l2 nearthe stem tip.

-That portion of the skirt between the threaded lower end and the cap l5 has ample internal diameter for clearing threaded section l2 as is plainly shown in Fig. 2.

Although the closure device is hereinabove described as'comprising a cap l5 provided with an apertured and notched skirt l1, said device may be described with equal appropriateness by referring to the lower internally threaded part 22 of the skirt as a gap ring or discontinuous retaining means, and by referring to the parts at the opposite sides of the opening I8 as bridge members for interconnecting the ring and cap.

Assembly of the device I 4 with the stem II is accomplished by turning the threaded section 2| onto and beyond the threaded section 12. The cap is thereafter screwable into closing relation on the threaded stem tip while the threads in the lower end of the skirt are advanced idly along the stem shank.

Access to contents of the tube It is provided for by unscrewing the cap from the stem tip and thereafter tilting the device i i in the manner illustrated in Fig. 3, the tip of the stem being thus projected through the opening it while the notch or open space H receives a section of the stem shank. Rounded corners 23 are provided at the lower end of said notch to facilitate the tilting manipulation of the device. Threaded sections i2 and it constitute stop means pre- Venting inadvertent displacement of the device endwise from the stem ii. It will be observed that while the device is thus adjusted, no part thereof coincides with the path taken by the material extruded from the tube. Consequently the device avoids becoming soiled and untidy in appearance, and the cap it does not become filled or clogged with an undesirable cake of the tube contents.

The device may be made of Bakelite, Celluloid or other conventional materials and the skirt ll may be resilient so that when the device is turned in the manner indicated in Fig. 3, or further as illustrated by the modified device 14' shown in Fig. 5, the sections at the opposite side of the notch i9 will grippingly engage the stem to yieldingly retain the.device in the tilted position. When it is again desired to close the end of the stem the device will be returned coaxially with the stem preparatory to turning the cap 15 upon the tip portion of the threads i2.

The modified form of device i4 shown in Fig. 5 embodies for the most part the same elements as the device shown in the lower numbered figures, and the corresponding elements are identiiied by the same reference numerals with a prime added. This second form of the invention has lateral arcuately shaped edges 50 at the sides of the notch I9. The retaining means on this second form of the invention comprises a rib 5! which is slidable past the bead 52 on the shank of stem I! when the device is forced endwise onto said stem incident to expanding the resilient skirt 11'. After the rib- 5| is forced past the bead 52 the skirt contracts, snapp the device in non-removable relation upon the stern or conduit II.

The device in Fig. 5 is manipulative like the first described device, but when in the open position, as illustrated, the arcuate edges 50 serve to maintain such open position. That is, when the device is tilted to its fully opened position it wedges into place with the edges 50 bearing against the end of tube while the sides of the opening I8 bear against the bead 52.

While my invention has been shown and described in its preferred forms, other embodiments may be made without departingfrom the spirit of the invention, the scope of which is in nowise intended to be limited except as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a non-removable closure device for a conduit or the like having a threaded end sec-'- tion and a neckof less diameter adjacent thereto, an internally threaded cap turnable onto said threaded section for closing the end of said conduit, an internally threaded gap ring spaced axially from and in opposed relation with the open end of said cap, and a bridge section connecting said cap and said ring in a manner to leave a space between the cap and ring, said ring being turnable onto and-advanceable beyond the conduit threaded section into registry with said neck while the cap is threaded onto said threaded section, said ring being retractable while remaining in registry with a part of said neck pursuant to removal of said cap, and said device following such removal of the cap being tiltable incident to said space between the cap and ring receiving the end of said conduit and the ring gap receiving a portion of said conduit neck.

2. In combination, a spout, a closure device upon said spout comprising a cap and a skirt extending axially from the open end of said cap, said skirt having an aperture in one side and a notch in the substantially opposite side thereof, stop means permitting mounting of said device with the skirt upon and about the spout and adapted to prevent accidental displacement of said device from said spout, means for securing the thus mounted device in position for holding the cap in closing relation with the end of said spout, and said device while upon the spout and with the cap out of closing relation therewith being tiltable to receive a section of the spout in the skirt notch incident to placing the skirt aperture in registry with the end of the spout.

3. In combination, an open ended conduit, a closure device upon said conduit comprising a cap for closing the end of said conduit, discontinuous retaining means disposed about said conduit in opposed spaced relation with the open end of said cap and bridge parts connecting said cap and retaining means, said bridge parts being spaced apart to leave openings in substantially opposite sides of said device, stop means permit: ting mounting of said device with the retaining means about a section of the conduit and cooperatively abutable with said retaining means to prevent displacement of the device endwise from the conduit, means for securing the thus mounted device in position for holding the cap in closing relation with the end of the conduit, and said device while upon the conduit and with the cap out of closing relation therewith being tiltable to receive a side section or the conduit between adjacent portions of the discontinuous retaining means and in one of the side openings of the device and to receive the end of said'conduit in the opposite of said side openings.

4. In combination, an open ended conduit, a closure device upon said conduit comprising a cap for closing the end of said conduit and a skirt depending from the open end of said cap, said skirt having an aperture in one side and a notch in substantially the opposite side thereof, cooperative thread' means on said device and said conduit meshable for permitting said device to be turned onto the conduit, said thread means being of limited extent and capable of being run through after predetermined turning of the device whereupon said device is advanceable further onto the conduit independently of said thread means but is limited by said thread means in simple retractive movement, and additional cooperative thread means on said device and conduit, the additional thread means being meshable upon such further advance of the device and thereupon operable by additional tuming or the device to draw the cap into closing relation with the end of the conduit, and said device while between the positions for mesh of either of said thread means being tiltable to receive a side section of the conduit in said skirt notch incident to placing the skirt aperture in registry with the end of said conduit.

5. In combination, an openended conduit, a closure device upon said conduit comprising a cap for closing the end of said conduit, discon- ZZU. M t l ALUU hLbLl l i-i'ocgo,

threads in the ring exceeding-that of the threads.

tinuous retaining means disposed about said conduit in opposed spaced relation with the open end of said cap and bridge parts connecting said cap and said retaining means, said bridge parts being spaced apart to leave openings in substantially opposite sides of said device, cooperative thread means interiorly of said device and exteriorly of said conduit meshable for permitting said device to be turned onto said conduit, said thread means being of limited extent and therefore capable of being run through after predetermined turning of the device whereupon said device is advanceable further onto the conduit independently of said thread means but is limited by said thread means in simple retractive movement axially of the conduit, and additional cooperative thread means interiorly of said device and exteriorly of said conduit, the additional thread means being meshable upon such further advance of the device and thereupon operable by additional turning of the device to draw the cap into closing relation with the end of the conduit, and said device while between the positions for mesh of either of said thread means being tiltable to receive a side section of the conduit in one of the side openings of said device incident to receiving the end of the conduit in the other of said side openings 6. A closure device comprising a cap, an internally threaded discontinuous retaining ring in opposed spaced relation with the open end of said cap, and a bridge connecting and maintaining such relation of said cap and retaining means, said bridge providing a space registering with and forming a continuation of a breach in said ring, and said connecting means also providing additional space at substantially the diameterically opposite side of the device.

'7. A closure device comprising a cap, an internally threaded discontinuous retaining ring in opposed spaced relation with the open end of said cap, and bridge members interconnecting the cap and ring to secure them in such relation, said bridge members being spaced apart to provide an opening at one side of the device in communication with a breach in the ring and also to provide an opening at substantially the diametrically opposite side of the device.

8. A closure device comprising a cap, an internally threaded discontinuous retaining ring in opposed spaced relation with the open end of said cap, and an apertured bridge member interconnecting the cap and ring to secure them in such relation, said bridge member being disposed substantially diametrically oppositely of the device with respect to a breach in said ring.

9. A closure device comprising an internally threaded cap, an internally threaded discontinuous retaining ring in opposed spaced relation with go the open end of said cap, the diameter of the in the cap, and bridge members interconnecting the cap and ring to secure them in such relation, said bridge members being spaced apart to provide an opening at one side of the device in communication with a breach in the ring and also to provide an opening at substantially the diametrically opposite side of the device.

10. A closure device comprising a cap, a discontinuous expansible retaining ring in opposed spaced relation with the open end of said cap, and resilient bridge members interconnecting the cap and ring to secure them in such relation, said bridge members being spaced apart to provide an opening at one side of the device in communication with a breach in the ring and also to provide an opening at substantially the diametrically opposite side of the device.

11. A closure device comprising a cap, a discontinuous retaining ring in opposed spaced relation with the open end of said cap and having stop means thereon, and bridge members interconnecting the cap and ring to secure them in such relation, said bridge members being spaced apart to provide an opening at one side of the device in communication with a breach in the ring and also to provide an opening at substantially the diametrically opposite side of the device, and said bridge members having curved cam sections thereon projecting outwardly from the device at the sides of the first of said openings.

12. In combination, an open ended conduit having stop members spaced axially thereof, a closure device upon said conduit comprising a cap for closing the end of said conduit, discontinuous retaining means disposed about said conduit between said stop members in opposed spaced relation with the open end of said cap, and wedge-like bridge parts connecting said cap and retaining means, said bridge parts being spaced apart to leave openings in substantially opposite sides of said device, said device being tiltable into position to receive a side section of the conduit between adjacent portions of the discontinuous retaining means and in one of the side openings of the device and to receive the end of said conduit in the opposite of said side openings, and said bridge members being of such dimensions as to releasably wedge between said stop members when the device is in such tilted position.

13. A closure device comprising a cap, a discontinuous retaining ring in opposed spaced relation with the open end of said cap, and a bridge connecting and maintaining such relation of said cap and retaining means, said bridge providing a space registering with and forming a continuation of a breach in said ring, and said connecting bridge also providing additional space at substantially the diametrically opposite side of the device.

MARTINELLO PATRICK DOUGHERTY. 

